Cover assembly for the electrical control panel of an actuator



Aug. 23, 1966 J. J. FRY 3,267,741

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL OF AN ACTUATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1964 'INVENTOR Byjrlhf SOSPI1 FT) Wm M ja #M I ATTORNEYS z- 3, 1966 J. J. FRY 3,267,741

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL OF AN ACTUATOR Filed June 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 67 1.9 1 1.5 Z0 {U 119i I c I 17 59 76 50 Z 7 I I II I 1 '|.Ialli!!h|l| j g J seph Fr/ ATTORNEYS 3, 1966 J. J. FRY

COVER ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL OF AN ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1964 a T m V P T mm A O r S 7% m] 3mm United States Patent Ofiice 3,257,741 Patented August 23, 1966 3,267,741 COVER ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL F AN ACTUATGR Jeremy Joseph Fry, Bath, Somerset, England, assignor to Rotorlr Engineering Company Limited, Somerset, England Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 372,999 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 7, 1963, 22,842/ 63 5 Claims. (Cl. 741) This invention relates to a cover assembly for the electrical control panel of an actuator of the kind incorporating an electric motor as the power means. Such actuators normally include a control panel having a plurality of push buttons for the manual control and/ or operation of an associated apparatus or mechanism.

The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with valve actuators whereby energisation of the electric motor is operable to move the valve to its open or closed position. Such valve actuators can be energised at the local position by means of a control panel which forms part of the actuator and which normally comprises a set of three push buttons, two of which comprise starter buttons intended for energising the actuator towards its open and closed position. The third push button is normally a stop button. Such actuators are normally arranged so that the electric motor can also be energised from a remote location by means of a system of land wires.

The present invention has for its object to provide a cover assembly for the electrical control panel on the actuator and which includes a movable screen or mask for the push buttons whereby the control of the actuator at the local position can be selectively determined in accordance with any desired requirements. For example, under certain operating conditions it may be essential that the actuator should be controlled only from the remote location and under these conditions the mask or screen would be operated to a position which would prevent operation of any of the three push buttons at the local control panel. As a further example certain operating conditions may require that the actuator should be controlled from the remote location but that local control should be provided to allow the actuator to be stopped, for example in an emergency. Under these conditions the mask or screen would be operated to prevent local operation of the actuator to move the valve to its open or closed positions, but the mask or screen would permit operation at the local position of the stop button so that the actuator could be stopped if necessary, for example in an emergency.

In its broadest aspect the invention provides an actuator more particularly for the operation of valves, having an electric motor and a control panel including a plurality of push buttons for controlling the energisation of said motor, wherein a cover assembly is mounted on said actuator over said control panel, said cover assembly including an operating knob and a disc movable by said knob to screen one or more of said push buttons to prevent manual operation thereof.

In a preferred embodiment the cover assembly comprises a fixed outer casing having a plurality of apertures therein for permitting manual operation of corresponding push buttons through the apertures in the movable disc, said movable disc being connected to said operating knob which is rotatably mounted in said fixed outer casing. The operating knob conveniently includes an axially extending plunger for operating the corresponding push button in response to axial movement of said knob, said push button conveniently comprising a stop push button for the complete de-energisation of the electric motor of the actuator.

The operating knob is conveniently formed with one or more radially extending projections which during the rotational movement of the operating knob can be engageable over and/ or under flanges on the fixed outer casing so as to maintain the operating knob in a preselected axial position whereby operation of the stop push button is prevented or the push button is maintained depressed.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the movable disc of the cover assembly is rotatable by the operating knob to a plurality of preselected positions for varying the amount of manual control of the actuator at the local position and in order to prevent unauthorized operation of the control panel the movable disc of the cover assembly is lockable in each of the predetermined positions.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the cover assembly of the invention as mounted on the casing of the valve actuator, the operating knob being positioned so that full manual control of the actuator is possible at the local position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 through the cover assembly and the adjacent parts of the actuator;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 33 of FIGURE 1 through the cover assembly and the ad jacent parts of the actuator and in particular showing the control switches of the motor circuits and also the locking means for the movable disc of the cover assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the cover assembly similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the operating knob in a different position in which manual control at the local position is completely prevented so that energisation of the electric motor is only possible from the remote location, and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the various parts of the cover assembly as shown in the preceding figures of the drawings.

In the drawings the cover assembly of the present invention is shown attached to a valve actuator which is preferably but not exclusively of the kind described and claimed in US. patent application Serial Number 175,- 769, now US. Patent Number 3,198,033. Such a valve actuator operates directly for moving an associated valve to its open or closed position. The valve actuator is power and/or manually operable, and the power means comprises an electric motor which may be energised at the 10- cal position by means of push buttons forming part of a control panel on the actuator. In addition the electric motor may be energised from a remote location through a system of land wires. The present invention is concerned with the provision of a cover assembly for the control panel which forms part of the actuator.

In the drawings the actuator casing is shown by the reference numeral 10 and the control panel 11 is shown more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. The

' 3 sion springs 17. As indicated in the drawings and more particularly in FIGURE 3, each of the push buttons is adapted to operate a switch forming part of the motor control circuits. The push button 12 is a starter button intended for the energisation of the open circuit of the reversible electric motor of the actuator so as to move the valve towards its open position. Depression of the push button 12 operates the switch 19 by means of the shaft 15. The push button 14 is likewise intended to operate the switch 20 which is in the closed circuit for the electric motor so that when the switch 24 is operated the electric motor is energised to move the valve towards u its closed position. The central push button 13 is a stop button and this operates the switch 21 through its shaft 15.

Operation of the push button 13 is adapted to break the main motor control circuit so as to de-energise the actuator motor, for example in an emergency.

The control panel 11 as described above forms the local operation of the actuator and under normal operating conditions the control panel 11 would be mounted for manual operation as desired. The present invention sets out to provide a cover assembly for the control panel 11 so as to prevent unauthorized operation of the actuator and the local position. In addition, the cover assembly is constructed to permit certain predetermined operations of the actuator which can be preselected at the control panel 11.

The cover assembly of the present invention is shown in detail in FIGURE of the drawings where the parts have been separated so as to show their construction more clearly. The cover assembly is indicated in the drawings generally by the reference numeral 22 and it comprises a fixed outer casing or cover 23 which is generally of circular construction and which has a front plate 24 formed with three apertures 25, 26 and 27 which are shown more clearly in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The casing or cover 23 is also formed with an annular flange 28 which is cut away as shown at 29 for fitting to the casing of the actuator to which it is attached by screws passing through the apertures 30 in the flange 28.

The central aperture 26 in the front plate 24 of the outer casing or cover 23 is adapted to receive an operating knob shown generally by the reference numeral 31. The knob 31 has a front portion 32 suitably shaped as shown for manual operation, an intermediate portion 33 which is the part of the knob mounted in the aperture 26, and a plunger or axial extension 34 which is adapted to depress the stop button 13 as will be hereinafter described.

The intermediate portion 33 of the knob 31 is formed with threaded apertures 35 adapted to receive screws 36 for securing a selector disc or plate 37 to the operating knob as shown more particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3. The selector disc or plate 37 is formed with apertures 38 and 39 and the disc is rotatable by the operating knob 31 so as to bring the apertures 38 and 39 into alignment with the apertures 25 and 27 as will be hereinafter described. The selector disc 37 is also formed with lugs 40 around its periphery for abutting the inner surface of the plate 24 of the outer casing or cover. The lugs 40 act to space the disc 37 from the inner surface of the front piate 24 of the casing or cover and this is assisted by the part-circular inserts 65 secured around each of the apertures 25 and 27.

The operating knob 31 is also provided with pins 41 which extend radially from the intermediate portion 33. The pins 41 are adapted to engage over or under a pair of flanges 42 which are oppositely positioned around the aperture 2 6 in the centre of the front plate 24 of the outer casing. As will be hereinafter described the pins 411 in one position of the operating knob 31 are both located on the outer sides or front faces of the flanges 42 and the rotational movement of the operating knob in the anti-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 4 is determined by means of an outwardly turned lug 43 on each of the flanges 42. As the operating knob 31 is rotated clockwise the pins 41 slide over the other end of each of the flanges 42 and subsequent movement of the operating knob 31 can, therefore, be axial and/or rot tional due to the absence of the flanges 42 around the periphery of the aperture 26. As will be hereinafter described a further angular movement of the operating knob in the clockwise direction together with an axial inward movement of the knob can locate the pins 41 beneath the flanges 42 in which position the pins will engage the inwardly directed lugs 44 at the other end of the flanges 42.

The cover assembly 22 is completed by a fixed disc 45 and a rubber disc 46 which are fixed by means of screws 47 to the end wall 16 of the actuator casing 10. As will be seen in FIGURE 5 of the drawings the fixed disc 45 is formed with three apertures 48, 49 and 50 which correspond with the apertures 25, 26 and 27 in the front plate 24 of the outer casing.

When the cover assembly has been attached to the control panel as shown in the drawings, the normal position of the selector disc 37 is obtained by moving the operating knob manually until the arrow 51 on the front of the operating knob is positioned to indioate the full control position as shown on the front plate 24. In this position the operating knob has moved the selector disc so that the apertures 39 and 38 are in alignment with the apertures 25 and 27 in the front plate 24. This permits full manual control of the push buttons 12 and 14 through the apertures 25 and 27, the push buttons 12 and 14 being depressed through the fixed disc 45 by pressing on the rubber disc 46 which is m'arked as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. In this position of the operating knob 31 the knob is also capable of inward axial movement as the pins 41 are positioned away from the ends of the flanges 4-2. If, therefore, it is desired to stop the actuator during either its movements towards a valve closed or open position, it is merely necessary to press the operating knob 31 inwardly and the plunger 15 will operate the switch 21 to stop the actuator immediately.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawings a further position of the operating knob is shown in which the knob has been moved counter-clockwise so that the pins 41 ride over the outer surfaces of the flanges 42 to engage the lugs 43. In this position the selector disc 37 has been rotated so that the disc now screens the apertures 48 and St in the fixed disc '45 which prevents manual operation of the open and closed press buttons 12 and 14 as the selector disc can in no way be moved axially due to engagement of the pins 41 on the outer surfaces of the flanges 42. In this position the operating knob 31 is also incapable of inward axial movement so that no control whatsoever is obtained over the actuator at the local position. The only control of the actuator is from the remote position through the landline system and this is indicated, as shown in FIGURES l and 4 of the drawings, by the legends on the outer face of the front plate 24 of the outer casing or cover.

A third position of the operating knob 31 is indicated in FIGURES 1 and 4 of the dnawings by the legend stop and remote." In this position of the operating knob 31 the selector disc 37 once again effectively screens the apertures 48 and 50 in the fixed disc 45 so that no manual operation can be obtained of the push buttons 12 and 14. However, in this position of the operating knob the pins 4 1 are clear of the flanges 42 so that the opeiiator at the local position is able to depress the operating knob 31 inwardly to operate the switch 21 due to the axial movement of the plunger 15 and this gives a stop control of the actuator at the local position. In addition the actuator is, of course, fully controllable from the remote situation.

The final position of the operating knob 31 is indicated on FIGURES 1 and 4 of the drawings by the legend stop look. In this positionthe operating knob is moved clock- Wise until the pins 41 engage the lugs 43 of the flanges 42. When this occurs the operating knob 31 is then moved axially inwards so as to move the pins 41 under the flanges 42. The operating knob 31 is then moved clockwise until the pins 41 engage the lugs 44 on the undersurface of the flanges 42. In this position the operating knob 31 is held locked in its inward axial position in which the plunger 15 has operated the switch 21 to stop the actuator. This position of the operating knob 31 maintains the actuator stopped and no control can, therefore, be obtained either at the local position or at the remote situation.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a means for selecting a predetermined control for the actuator at the local position. In order to prevent unauthorised changes in the position of the operating knob the assembly is provided with a locking means for retaining the assembly in a selected position. The locking means comprises a slot 52 in the outer casing or cover 23. In addition the discs 45 and 46 are each provided with slots 53, 54 which are located opposite to the slot at 52 in the cover plate or casing. Furthermore the selector disc 37 is provided with four slots 55 in its periphery and which are adapted to be positioned opposite the slot 52 in each of the four positions of the operating knob 31. The looking means comprises a lever 56 which is pivoted at 57 on the actuator casing 10. The lever 56 is substantially L-shaped and it has a nose portion 58 which is adapted to engage within the slot 52 of the casing or cover 23' so as to engage also within the slots 53 and 54 together with the selected slot 55 in the selector disc 37 depending upon its position by the operating knob 31. Any suitable form of looking means may be provided but in the construction shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings the lever 56 is urged towards its locking position by the spring pin 59 on the support bracket 60 and the lever is provided with an aperture 61 for receiving a padlock or other fastening means 62. The aperture 61 is so positioned that the padlock englages the outer wall or a cut-away portion in the bracket 60 so as to prevent the outward movement of the lever 56 to release the cover assembly.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the casing 23 is secured to the actuator casing by screws 63. The assembly is completed by a poly-methyl-methacrylate cover 64.

The invention thus provides a simple arrangement for use with a control panel whereby any desired form of manual operation can be obtained by positive selection through rotation of the selector disc 37 by the operating knob 31. The invention greatly simplifies the controls necessary for actuation as it avoids the use of special isolation switches together with the necessary electrical circuits and associated apparatus.

I claim:

1. A cover assembly in combination with a control panel having a plurality of push buttons controlling a series of operations, said assembly comprising a selector disc extending over said control panel and having a plurality of 7 holes normlally respectively aligned with at least a portion of said buttons to permit the manual actuation thereof, means rotatably mounting said disc with respect to said control panel, a control knob fixed to said disc for rotating same into and out of said aligned position, said control knob being movable axially to and from a corresponding push button to respectively actuate and release said button, and means on said mounting means for preventing said axial movement and for locking said button in an actuating position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a cover plate fixed to said control panel, extending over said selector disc, and having a plurality of holes corresponding to those of said selector disc, and control knob extending through said plate and being axially moviable with respect thereto.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking means and means for preventing said axial movement comprises at least one flange depending from said mounting means and cooperating with said knob.

4. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising means to lock said selector disc in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

5. A cover assembly in combination with a control panel having a plurality of push buttons controlling a series of operations, said assembly comprising a selector disc extending over said control panel and rotatably mounted with respect thereto, said disc having a plurality of holes normally respectively aligned with at least a portion of said buttons to permit the manual actuation thereof, and a control knob fixed to said disc for rotating same into and out of said aligned position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COVER ASSEMBLY IN COMBINATION WITH A CONTROL PANEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF PUSH BUTTONS CONTROLLING A SERIES OF OPERATIONS, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A SELECTOR DISC EXTENDING OVER SAID CONTROL PANEL AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES NORMALLY RESPECTIVELY ALIGNED WITH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID BUTTONS TO PERMIT THE MANUAL ACTUATION THEREOF, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID DISC WITH RESPECT TO SAID CONTROL PANEL, A CONTROL KNOB FIXED TO SAID DISC FOR ROTATING SAME INTO AND OUT OF SAID ALIGNED POSITION, SAID CONTROL KNOB BEING MOVABLE AXIALLY TO AND FROM A CORRESPONDING PUSH BUTTON TO RESPECTIVELY ACTUATE AND RELEASE SAID BUTTON, AND MEANS ON SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING SAID AXIAL MOVEMENT AND FOR LOCKING SAID BUTTON IN AN ACTUATING POSITION. 